Options for getting a boat titled.

[izaollie]

Ive got a 16 foot Sea Lion. Got it for free. I tried to track the title down but
its not looking good at this point. I live in Florida. I was just curious if there
are any other ways to get it titled.

Thanks

Ollie

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Options for getting a boat titled.

Well, free boats are never really free. I don't know Florida's title stuff, but in most places, getting a title on a random boat without one can be tricky, and potentially expensive.

Before you get all involved in this project, take a good long look at this "free" boat and assess what it's going to cost you to get it on the water. It's very likely that the cost will be as much or more as you'll spend buying an inexpensive boat that doesn't have all the issues you're going to face.

My father once gave me a "free" 12' aluminum boat and a 6hp Johnson outboard. Just the boat. By the time I had it in the water, I had spent $250. I had to buy a tank for the outboard, safety equipment, licence the boat, and get a couple of oars. And that boat didn't need any repairs.

Study your "free" boat carefully and get a marine catalog and start adding up how much it will cost you. Then, check your local ads and see what similar boats are selling for that are ready for the water. You may get a surprise.

 

[roostonu]

Re: Options for getting a boat titled.

In California all you have to do is have a bill of sale (including gifts) for the boat from the person you bought it from. As well as a statement of facts, saying the title is missing. I just bought a boat from a guy who got it from a friend who bought the boat and the trailer from another guy and none of them had transfered the boat into their names. To top it off the last known registered owner was different on the boat and the trailer. I also had to include a statement saying the last known registered owners were unknown. As long as the hull# doesn't come back stolen it's OK in Cali. I was the fourth person the boat was transfered to since the last registered owner. Oh yeh the second guy bought it from the first guy and then the first guy died and the bill of sale was signed by his son. I had a thick stack of paperwork with 3 differnt signatures on them and none of them were the last known registered owners. Go figure.

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: Options for getting a boat titled.

Where are you from? In alot of states the boat itself is not registered and titled through the DMV. The registration is through the Parks and Rec. I know in Idaho anything older than 2000 does not require a title, only a bill of sale which you can write on your own.